Agusta A109 N808GM

Summary

On 1 July 1996 at about 23:57 local time, a Agusta A109 registered N808GM was involved in an accident near Newport, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 July 1996 at 23:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Newport, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

44.6593, -124.0098

Aircraft

Agusta A109

Registration

N808GM

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hillsboro → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96LA139

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the gusty wind condition during the landing. The gusty wind was a related factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter's left main landing gear collapsed as the pilot attempted a normal landing from a hover at his personal helipad. After the collapse, the main rotor blades and tail rotor blades contacted the ground, causing substantial damage to the tailboom and fuselage. The pilot stated that he saw three green landing gear cockpit lights, just before the accident, indicating that the landing gear was down and locked. He also stated that he heard a 'snap' noise in the tailboom just prior to the accident. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction, deficiency, or structural failure. The left main landing gear failed in overload. The wind was reported to be 350 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 24 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.